Fusion-io picks up software-defined storage firm ID7 for SCST chops

The flash storage firm Fusion-io has picked up ID7, a British software-defined storage outfit, for an undisclosed amount. This is a big deal because ID7 is the driving force behind the SCST Linux storage subsystem, widely used in storage products from vendors including HP, EMC and IBM.

According to Fusion-io, the deal will leave safe the open-source distribution of SCST. On the other hand, ID7 makes its money off helping those other hardware vendors implement SCST in their commercial products, so in that sense Fusion-io just bought its way closer to the center of the software-defined storage universe.

Here’s what Fusion-io product chief Gary Orenstein had to say in a statement on Monday:

“As with other kernel contributors across the Linux stack working at Fusion-io, we will continue to support the open philosophies that have made ID7 and SCST successful. In addition to maintaining an open source version of SCST, Fusion-io will continue to contribute to the open source distribution as we develop software solutions to help define the all-flash data center.”

The supposed benefit of the software-defined storage approach is the ability to weave shared storage pools out of standard server-attached hardware, so usage can be quickly scaled up and down as needed. ID7 has already been working with Fusion-io on its ION Data Accelerator software, which does this in an interface-agnostic fashion, and will indeed be folded into this side of Fusion-io’s business.

Again from the statement, here’s ID7 co-founder Mark Klarzynski:

“We had an opportunity to work with Fusion-io on the development of the ION Data Accelerator when it became apparent that the team has been founded on a culture of architecting software innovation deep within the Linux operating system kernel to deliver significant breakthroughs in modern storage architectures. We’re excited to join the Fusion-io team of world class engineers and developers to work together on open, software defined solutions to today’s most challenging data demands.”